09/28/2026
What a beautiful night.
Our Light the Way Gala was everything we hoped it would be…beautiful, joyful, emotional, generous, and filled with reminders of why this work matters so deeply.
To Lucy and her family, thank you for sharing your story and such a meaningful part of your lives with us. Your courage and joy touched our hearts.
To Mary Anne Ruddis, thank you for your beautiful and inspiring words, and for helping us pause and remember the children we carry in our hearts.
To our incredible CCC team, Gala Committee, volunteers and Board, thank you. What looked beautiful and effortless Saturday night was the result of countless hours, late nights, creative ideas, heavy lifting and hearts completely invested in this mission.
And to our sponsors, guests, donors, photographers, vendors, emcee, auctioneer, and every person and business who donated to our live and silent auctions, thank you for showing up so generously for our families.
We are also deeply grateful to the incredible Pediatric Oncology team at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital for the care and compassion you give children and families every day.
But beneath the sunflowers, wheat and twinkling lights, Saturday night was never really about a beautiful room.
It was about our kids.
The child newly diagnosed.
The child in treatment.
The one waiting for the next scan.
The survivor finding their way forward.
The family grieving a child they would give anything to hold again.
And the parents, siblings and caregivers walking every step beside them.
They are why we gathered.
The Childhood Cancer Coalition is honored to walk alongside families through every stage of childhood cancer, the frightening days, the hopeful ones, the celebrations, the uncertainty, the bell ringings and the heartbreak.
Saturday night, this community reminded our families of something incredibly important:
You do not walk this road alone.
Thank you for helping us Light the Way.
